I agree that the progressive label is relatively new. Teddy Roosevelt used the progressive label and then it fell out of use until recently. My idea of a conservative goes back to Barry Goldwater and his brand of Traditional conservatism. Liberalism of a more classical type to JFK. Of course, I grew up during Eisenhower, at least he’s the first president I’ve had personally experienced although I was born during Truman right after WWII. Today, neither political party falls into my definition of conservatism or liberalism. The meanings have changed from the time I formed what each was, later 50’s and early 60’s.

When describing my politics, I usually say I’m a Goldwater conservative with some of Ross Perot thrown in. Which probably means nothing today. What I would say it means probably would be being social liberal while being fiscal responsible witch has nothing at all to do with being fiscal conservative which fiscal conservatives are fiscal at all. One of the tenets of being a traditional conservative is that government should stay out of a citizen’s private business and lives. What does that mean today, abortion, it means the woman decides, not government. Gay rights and marriage let love decide, not government. That every American regardless of race, religion, gender and anything else one might think of has the same rights and liberties, no discrimination. Basically, what people today would be classified as a social liberal.

There’s more, but I won’t bore you as you mentioned the tribal aspect. Meanings today don’t have the same meanings as they once had or as I view them. Each of us attaches a meaning they want to conservatism, liberalism, progressivism, libertarianism, socialism and all other ism’s.

It's high past time that we start electing Americans to congress and the presidency who put America first instead of their political party. For way too long we have been electing Republicans and Democrats who happen to be Americans instead of Americans who happen to be Republicans and Democrats.